They left the restaurant soon after. While breakfast was every bit as good as Franz had claimed it to be, Klaus hadn’t been able to enjoy it. A slight weight had been lifted from his chest now that he had made a decision but he still faced an internal struggle over what came next. Having signed the contract, Klaus had an innate sense that he would not be able to get around it in any way, so he would just have to hope that Franz was right that attending this school was going to be his best chance to prepare for the coming threat of Earth’s Integration. His thoughts returned back to his family.

“I don’t know if I can leave my family if what you say is coming will happen soon.”

“Unfortunately,” Franz began with clear sympathy, “only you are able to take advantage of this opportunity. That being said, I am willing to offer you a bargain.”

“What kind of bargain?” Klaus asked as they walked down the sidewalk, though he did not yet know where they were heading.

“If you are willing to do a service for me, I will stay behind on Earth when you go.” He sidestepped a hole in the sidewalk. “While I’m here, I can help protect your family in the event the Integration occurs prior to your ability to return.”

“What kind of service?” Klaus asked. “Also, where are we going?”

“Nothing you need to be worried about. Just something you will easily be able to do once you have your status in the nobility recognized.” Franz then gestured further down the street where a line of taxis were parked. “And we are headed to the house I am renting so you can use a portal and we can send you on your way.”

“So quickly?” asked Klaus with a degree of shock. “I thought I would at least have some time to say goodbye to my family.”

“I am afraid not,” Franz shook his head. “Now that you have signed the contract, we are on a bit of a schedule.” As they got closer to the taxis, Franz waved to get the attention of one near the front. An older man standing next to the car smoking waved in acknowledgement, then gestured that he would be finishing his cigarette first.

Franz signaled his acknowledgment, then gestured for Klaus to slow down his pace. “So about that service. I’ve already left contingencies in place for you to be notified of the details. In exchange for you to give it an honest effort, I promise to stay behind and protect your family.”

Klaus considered his options. Up until now, Franz had not only saved his life but also dealt with him in an open and honest manner. Or at least that was what it seemed like. And he already knew how strong Franz was. Having him near his family would drastically increase their odds of survival if this Integration happened before he could return.

An ache in his chest grew as it sunk in he would not be able to say goodbye. Sure, he envisioned going off to school at some point in pursuit of his dream, but he always had time to say goodbye before he left. And there were the school breaks after all, where he would be able to come back to visit. Klaus didn’t even bother asking Franz if something like that was a possibility. The ache deepened as he realized he would be gone for years at the very least, thrust into the world of nobles and imperial expectations, far from everything and everyone familiar in his life. Swallowing hard, Klaus blinked back the sting of tears, felling the sadness of leaving behind the people he loved most.

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“Alright, I agree. In exchange for completing this task you have in mind, you will stay behind on Earth and protect my family here.”

“Agreed. My word is my bond. Your family will be safe with me watching over them. Thank you, Klarion.” Franz solemnly said.

“It’s Klaus,” he corrected yet again as they came up to the taxi, right as the driver finished off his cigarette.

“For now, but as soon as you cross over into the Empire, that name won’t work for you anymore. You’ll see what I mean once you arrive.”

The old taxi driver flicked away the butt of his cigarette, leaned down, and opened up the driver’s door. “So. Where am I taking you?”

Klaus turned to Franz, who responded as he opened the streetside passenger door, “47 Harcourt.”

The man grunted an acknowledgment, and almost before Klaus and Franz were settled in their seats, the taxi was moving. They sat in silence as Klaus stared out the window.

The taxi rumbled down the cracked streets of the city. The grime-coated buildings seemed to blur past, their faded facades a reflection of the decay that had seeped into the city’s bones. For all that the graffiti-covered walls and unkempt streets spoke of a city in decline, Klaus found his mind trying to soak up as many details as he could. The flickering neon sign of a corner shop, the distant wail of a siren, even the heavy grey sky hanging overhead like a funeral shroud. For all that, there were signs of life everywhere too. A young girl skipped the other way down the street, giggling as she raced to catch up with a woman burdened by groceries. A shaggy dog lying down next to an older woman reading a ragged paper on a bus bench. Dozens of people on these few streets alone seeking to live their lives the best they could, not much different from his friends and family.

All were worth saving.

His hand tightened on the edge of his seat, fingers digging into the worn upholstery as the weight of what was coming pressed down on him. A final pang of longing hit him for the simplicity of the life he was living a few days ago. It was a hard life, yes, with its own set of risks and dangers, but he would far rather suffer through the path to becoming a doctor in this city than to go on the journey that Franz was about to send him on at the command of the noble family that had exiled him here on Earth.

The memory of the death of a world he witnessed over the German meal appeared in his mind’s eye again.

Klaus pushed aside the fear and anxiety swirling in his chest, forcing himself to focus. Indulging in his doubt and fears would only make everything he had to do harder, and he did not have the luxury of hesitation if he hoped to save his family and friends on Earth. To that he was going to have to do much more than just survive; he would have to excel. With every block passed in the taxi, Klaus worked to harden his resolve. There was no going back. The portal was waiting, and beyond it, the Empire itself.

The taxi came to a halt in front of an imposing, weathered mansion in one of the nicer districts of the city of Volksturm. The building loomed like some specter from a forgotten era, one where the city was booming and expanding into a bright future. They stepped out of the taxi and, after Franz paid, the driver immediately left. Klaus followed Franz into the small front yard, a luxury all its own, that held a few stunted trees. Faded shutters framed dirty windows, giving the house almost a gloomy feel. Franz pushed the heavy wooden door open and beckoned Klaus to follow him inside.

The interior of the mansion was also a mix of faded grandeur and eerie neglect. A high vaulted ceiling loomed overhead, a once-opulent chandelier now chocked with cobwebs. As Klaus stepped inside, the dark wooden floor creaked underfoot, and he caught the smell of old paper and decay, heavy with the weight of history. The door closed behind him.

“Welcome to my home, Klarion,” Franz said, “and the start of your journey.”